Edward Street Quarter, Brighton, United Kingdom

Brighton’s Edward Street Quarter bounces back

The area around the old American Express building in east Brighton is set to be transformed as redevelopment projects in the city continue

BuckleyGrayYeoman has been appointed by First Base as masterplanner and architect for a new 300,000 sq ft mixed-use project on the site of the former Amex House in Brighton. The redevelopment will transform the vacant site, breathing new life into the eastern section of the city by creating a new vibrant quarter for Brighton.

Matt Yeoman, Director of BuckleyGrayYeoman commented: “We’re delighted to be working with First Base to bring this fantastic site back into use for the benefit of all in Brighton. We have been asked to create a proposal that places public realm and community at the very heart of the scheme. Edward Street Quarter will be a truly mixed-use project that will provide new workspace and homes set among new high-quality pedestrianised streets and public squares.”

Daniel May, Head of Design at First Base commented: “We are excited to work with BuckleyGrayYeoman to bring forward the plans for Edward Street Quarter. We see this as an opportunity to deliver meaningful long term benefits for the local area and the City; including jobs, workspace and homes and new public spaces.”

Early designs for Edward Street Quarter show that the site will accommodate approximately 150-200 homes alongside around 150,000-200,000 sq. ft of commercial space.

BuckleyGrayYeoman will draw on its expertise of creating high quality mixed-use developments—such as Eccleston Place in Victoria on behalf of the Grosvenor Estate, and the Dace Road development in Hackney Wick for Aitch Group—to create a lively, attractive place with the energy and character to attract businesses, residents and visitors.

Aspirations for the project include the provision of modern, people-focused commercial workspace with large and open floorplates, targeted at maturing and expanding businesses who want to remain in the City centre.

The proposal will seek to deliver the residential dwellings, in a mixture of tenures and units sizes. Residences will benefit from a communal residents’ garden, as well as beautifully landscaped roof gardens.

The practice is placing its focus on creating high-quality public space throughout the development, with new pedestrian routes that open up the site and green space to encourage people to visit and stay. At the centre of the site, a new landscaped square will provide a focus for social life, providing a place to sit in the shade of newly-planted mature trees or for children to play while their parents enjoy a coffee on the outdoor terrace of one of the cafés or restaurants that will face onto the square.

BuckleyGrayYeoman will also look to reinstate Mighell Street, which once cut across the site, providing a pedestrian route that will run through the centre of the development and tie it into the grain and character of the surrounding streets. Sustainable and active travel, such as walking, will be encouraged by the new pedestrian routes, complemented by facilities for cyclists.